The Phoenix Mercury have succeeded with nearly an entirely new roster compared to last season. Sitting at 8-7 through 15 games, Phoenix has been fueled by its reshaped identity and newfound culture.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“The culture,” Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham said when discussing what makes this Phoenix Mercury team different than years past. “I’ve been around here for a hot minute, I’m getting old out here in these streets. The ups and downs of previous years, it’s been pretty exhausting. But when I tell you our new ownership has been phenomenal, the roster changes that we brought in, it’s just been a great feeling.” Cunningham was drafted by Phoenix in 2019, and has been in The Valley ever since.
This season has brought a togetherness and unity to Phoenix that has allowed it to flourish. Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts mentioned that this team’s best basketball is ahead — in large part due to the players getting closer both on and off the hardwood.
Phoenix has welcomed its newcomers with open arms, putting players like Kahleah Copper, Natasha Cloud, Bec Allen and others in situations to flourish early on.
“My first day was so accepting,” Allen said. “Everyone came up to me and I just felt like I was really welcomed in. It’s just a group that you want to be a part of… We’ve made sure that we’ve worked on [culture] every single day. It’s not just a touch point at the start, it’s something that’s continuous. I think that Nate [Tibbetts], the coaching staff are the ones who bring that every day and we sort of follow, which is a really nice environment to be a part of.”
"Everyone is having fun, everyone loves each other. At the end of the day, we are all competitors and we want to win."
Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) speaking about the comradery this season around the Phoenix Mercury compared to years past. #ValleyTogether #WNBA #LightItUpNYL pic.twitter.com/jHh8f1p8S8
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) June 19, 2024
Cunningham, alongside Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, has seen it all in Phoenix. They’ve seen the good and the bad. and have stuck with the process through it all. Seeing the culture reach its fullest form, there are clear benefits on the hardwood itself.
“It’s a direct reflection,” Cunningham said regarding how a team’s culture can dictate on-court success. “When you have great chemistry off the court, and you have fun and love each other and truly, genuinely want the best for each other, then on the court you’re going to go to war with them.”
Phoenix Mercury to host Kids Backpack Drive on June 29 for a chance to receive Mercury tickets
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
